Here’s what we stand to gain and lose with Greeley’s proposed 2021 budget

By Kelly Ragan

It’s budget season for the city of Greeley. While fine tuning the city’s finances is a big task during typical years, planning during a pandemic is a beast. 

During Tuesday’s city council meeting, Robert Miller, Greeley’s budget manager, spoke about priorities for the 2021 budget. 

During such uncertain times, he said, the budget reflects a focus on being responsive, responsible and resilient. 

Miller said he and his team developed a number of budget options based on several forecasted scenarios. On Tuesday, he put forward the 2021 budget he recommends the city adopt. 

“Because the future is uncertain, we have provided options in the budget to reduce or increase our service levels depending on what happens,” Miller said.  

Here are some of the highlights. 

Reductions 

The proposed 2021 budget reductions essentially fall into two categories – facilities and people. 

As for facilities, we could see reduced hours at the Family FunPlex, Ice Haus, Rodarte Center and Greeley Recreation Center. 

That’s the flexibility in “service levels” Miller talked about. 

The proposed budget also calls for a spring 2021 opening of the Active Adult Center, which is closed due to the pandemic and the vulnerable population who use it. 

Greeley museums also face significant reductions, with the proposal calling to keep Centennial Village closed until spring 2021, White-Plumb Farm closed indefinitely, and reduced hours at other museum facilities. 

Other savings come from the fact that the Union Colony Civic Center won’t resume normal operations until the fall of 2021. As for people, the proposed budget cuts a total of 12 full-time positions. The proposed reductions would shave off about $2.7 million. 

“This is to allow us to also invest and improve other services provided by the city,” Miller said. “So, we are recommending investments in a number of areas.” 

Investments

The proposed 2021 budget calls for investing nearly $4.5 million in a variety of departments for additional employees, necessary insurance and more. 

Some noteworthy highlights include Emerald Ash Borer management and costs associated with increased liability insurance and hiring an additional attorney for the Greeley Police Department. 

The proposed budget also calls for an increase in utility rates. 

Miller said there is money set aside for unexpected expenses, to the tune of about $45.5 million in contingency resources, between carryover funds from the 2020 General Fund, the required two-month reserve and other sources. 

After all, 2021 could, somehow, be MORE unexpected than 2020. 

To participate 

City council will host a public hearing and will vote on the budget at a meeting October 20. For more information on how to participate, go to https://greeleygov.com/government/council.